Material digging and handling apparatus



Nov. 13, 1945. s. GRUBICH 2,389,044

MATERIAL DIGGING AND HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 27, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

TEPHEN GRUBICH.

ll" 5! ATTORNEY Nov. 13, 1945. s, GRUBICH 2,389,044

MATERIAL DIGGING AND HANDLING APPARATUS ,r

Filed June 27, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .FIGZ'G. P16? INVENTOR.

STEPHEN GRUBICH.

ATTORNEY Nov. 13, 1945. s. GRUBICH 2,389,04 4

MATERIAL DIGGING AND HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 27, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 128 I24 i HEH T R INVENTOR.

STEPHEN GRUBICH.

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 1 3, 1945. s. GRUBICH 2,389,044

MATERIAL DIGG'ING AND HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 2?, 1944 4 Sheets-Shee t 4 ,x x STEPHEN (JBIGH.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 13, 1945 MATERIAL DIGGING AND HANDLING APPARATUS Stephen Grubich, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application June 27, 1944, Serial No. 542,311

20 Claims. (01. 214-103) This invention relates to improvements in an apparatus for digging, removing and handling material and more particularly to mobile mounted hydraulicall controlled shovels, and dumping attachments therefor, although certain features thereof may be employed with equal advantage for other purposes. The subject matter of this application for Letters Patent constitutes an improvement on my United States Letters Patent No. 2,344,246, issued March-14, 1944.

It contemplates more especially an automatic shovel for scooping up material in making excavations or transferring material from one position to another including the loading of trucks therewith by dumping both forward and rearward after the digging or scooping operations. It will be understood, however, that the principles of this invention may be employed in con I nection with the bulldozer, a blade plow and backfiller and various other apparatus for handling material which it is desired to transfer for short distances from one location to another.

In an apparatus of the character involved herein, the distribution of the weight of the shovel mechanism with or without its contents affects the loading capacity of the machine. It is, therefore, important to construct and locate the parts in a manner so that the apparatus is more or less in a balanced state during operation and does not require outrigger anchoring means which handicaps mobility and the full advantageous use thereof. It is desirable to unload the bucket or shovel quickly both forwardly as well as rearwardly and without injurious effect upon the apparatus or the trucks into which the bucket is discharged, thereby procuring maximum capacity shovel control and dumping facility with minimum wear and tear on instrumentalities which have been greatly simplified and rendered far more dependable.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the construction and improve the operation of devices of the character mentioned.

Another object is to provide an improved material digging and handling apparatus to secure increased dumping facility through both forward and rearward unloading of the bucket or material penetrating instrumentality.

Still another object is to provide novel unloading means for the digging bucket so that the unloading thereof can be accomplished both forwardly and rearwardly of the frame.

A further object is to provide'improved means for moving and controlling the material digging and handling bucket both forwardly and rearwardly along the conveying track or ramp therefor.

means for unloading the material digging and handling bucket proximate to its forward digging position or effect the transfer thereof from its initial lifting means to a track for rearward dumping or unloading.

Still a further object is to provide novel means for unloading the material digging and handling bucket forwardly of the conveying track in conjunction with its initial lifting means normally effecting the transfer thereof to the track for rearward unloading.

An additional object is to provide improved 4 FigureS is a fragmentary side view of the shovel or bucket with the actuator or carrier plates removed.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of the bucket and the lifting meinber with portions broken away and parts in section and showing the latching devices for attaching the bucket to the lifting member.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the bucket detached from the operating instrumentalities. Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line VI-VI of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side view in elevation of the shovel or bucket actuating ram to effect forward dumping operations.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of the bucketliftingarms and forward dumping actuator therefor shown detached from the bucket and ramp displacing apparatus.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the shovel or bucket carrier.

Figure 10 is a side view in elevation of the shovel or bucket carrier shown in Figure 9 parts A still further object is to provide improved thereof being broken away and shown in section to clarify the showing.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of the forward portion of the shovel carrier Figure 12 is a plan view of a shovel carrier, supporting arm and hydraulic ram sub-assembly shown in Figure 8, the parts thereof being individually shown in Figures '1, and 11.

Figure 13 is a front view of the fragmentary corner arm shown in Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system and controls for controlling the dumping operations of the shovel both forwardly and rearwardly of the apparatus.

Figure 15 is an end view in elevation of apparatus shown in Figure 1, parts thereof being broken away to clarify the showing.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of the hydraulic shive actuator to eflect the displacement thereof relative to the ramp for affording rearward bucket dumping and return movement thereof.

The structure selected for illustration is not intended to servers a limitation upon the scope or teachings of the invention, but is merely illustrative thereof. There may be considerable variations and adaptations of all or part of the teachings depending upon the dictates of commercial practice. The present embodiment comprises a frame provided with a mobile mount of the caterpillar type having the usual endless traction chains II! that are driven. by power wheels II at one end of the chassis 12. The traction chains pass around large forward rollers l3 at the other end of the chassis i2 and their upper reaches are supported by intermediate idler rollers i4. The body of the tractor is provided with a platform it upon which the power instrumentalities are mounted. At the rear of the platform there is a seat It for the operator and within reach thereof are suitable hydraulic controls such as valves which will later be described. A suitable driving motor or engine i1 of the liquid fuel type, preferably of the internal combustion type, is mounted on the chassis i2 to effect the desired power traverse thereof through the medium of the traction chains l0.

The bucket, as has been hereinbefore stated, is adapted to travel during a portion of its cycle upon a track which guides it to its position for dumping at the rear end of the tractor. The

track comprises longitudinally disposed channels 20 that are in parallel relation to each other with their flanges facing or extending inwardly, and said channels are preferably disposed in inclined planes such as shown in Figure 1 so that a ramp is rovided thereby. At their upper ends the channels forming the tracks 20 have curved portions 2i that provide humps" and terminate in tangent downwardly extended terminal portions 22 which latter, at their extremities, are provided with closed pockets shown in detail in Figure 16 to provide stops 23. The lower or other. ends of the tracks have downwardly curved portions 24 and the upper flanges of the channels forming these tracks is cut away as at 25 in Figure 4 to permit implacement of the wheeled bucket on the ramp. Angle metal beams 26 extended obliquely downward from the rear ends of the tracks to corner plates 21 and the corner plates 21 have bearing bosses 28 for the pivots or trunnions as that project from the tractor side sills. Similar beams 30 extend downwardly from the lower front ends of the track rai s and are united with the blocks 21. Suitable stays ll, 32 and 33 are connected to the triangular shaped structures Just previously described and thus provide a rigid frame of the cantilever type which is disposed in the manner shown in Figure 1 and which is fulcrumed upon the trunnions 29. Vertical standards 34 arise from a suitable rear portion of the tractor and are braced by stay bars 35 as shown at the right hand of Figure l. The upper ends of the standards have oblique portions II that are provided with a plurality of apertures 31 to receive the shanks of bolts 38, which bolts pass through aligned openings in the inclined frame members 29. By removing the nut from the bolts 38 the track frame may be tilted upon its trunnions 2| to adjust the singularity or incline of the ramp members, and after the desired adjustment has been made the bolts are inserted through the aligned apertures in the oblique portion 33 of the standard and the inclined frame member 29 to secure the frame in position. This adjusts the entering or pentrating position of the bucket,

enables the bucket to remain level both forward and rearward when operating on steep slopes as the bucket traverses the ramp, and also puts the bucket at the proper angle for dumping at the rear so that it will be operating with the full and effective influence of gravity regardless of the terrain, slope or position that must be assumed by the traction gear, in this instance the chains Ill.

The bucket comprises a hollow body 39 of longated trough-shape having end walls 40. The under portion of the bucket 39 is provided with elongated trucks 4i-4l. The bucket trucks 4|-4i are disposed transversely of the bucket body near the ends thereof, and these are provided with lateral stubs 42-42 upon which suitable wheels 43-43 are journalled. These wheels 43-43 are adapted to support the bucket when it is traveling upon the ramp tracks 20. The bucket wheels 43-43 are positioned on the tracks with their treads within the inwardly confronting channels between the flanges defining the tracks 20 while the annular wheel flanges 44 are disposed outside the track to assist in the guidance of the bucket 39 therealong.

, The under-portion of the body of the bucket is provided with two pairs f elongated shores 45-45 that provide braces across the bottom thereof to add rigidity thereto, and the members of each pair are connected by tie-members 46- 46 (Figure 5). Suitable lugs 51-31 depend from the curved under surface of the bucket body 39 near the ends thereof and are preferably located adjacent and outside the planes of the elongated shoes 45. These lugs 41-41 are provided with suitable apertures and the ends of the pulling cables 48-48 are adjustably secured therein in any suitable manner. The cables pass inwardly in an oblique direction outside of and parallel to the tracks 2|] of the ramp and at the top of the latter the cables til-48 pass over sheaves 49-49 that are rotatably mounted to idle on the adjacent extended ends of a rock shaft 50.

The rock shaft 50 is .iournalled in members 51 depending from the humps or upper arcuate portions 21 of the tracks 20, and from the sheaves 49-49 the cables 48-49 pass downwardly in a substantially vertical direction to Windlasses 52-52 fixed to the ends of a drive shaft 53 (Figure 1). As will be seen in Figures 1 and 15, the drive shaft 53 is Joumalled in bearings 54-54 .After the bucket 39 has been loaded, in the position shown in Figure 1, it is raised by lifter arms 55-55 in a curved path until the wheels 43 of the bucket 39 pass into the side channels of the ramp tracks 29. This entrance of the bucket wheels 43 takes place in front of the forward end 25 of the upper channel flanges of the tracks 20 (Figure l). The lifter arms 55-55 comprise elongated forwardly flaring members that are fulcrumed about their rear ends on pins 58-58 anchored in the forward ramp supporting beams 39. The outer swinging end portions of the lifter arms 55-55 are provided with angularly disposed faces 51-51 defining a substantially Y-shaped configuration to detachably receive a tiltable bucket receiving cradle 58 thereon.

The bucket receiving cradle 58 consists of pairs of spaced plates 69-59 that are maintained in proper spaced relation by means of a cross beam 88 of triangular cross-section (Figures and Each of the pairs of spaced plates 59 have aligned apertures 6| therethrough for mounting upon pivotal pin 82 which extend downwardly from the tip 63 of the long branches 64 of the substantially -shapedend 65 of the lifter arms 55 (Figure 11). The pairs of plates 59-59 that are maintained in spaced relation by the cross beam 60, fit over the trunnion 62 of the lever arms 65 for pivotal connection therewith. As shown, each of the spaced plates 59-59 of the bucket or shovel cradle 58 carries substantially V-shaped surface plates 64-64 to serve as a self centering seat for the curved bottom of the bucket 39. Beyond the cross-beam 69 the lower branches 64 of the bucket cradle 58 are provided with open sockets 85 to receive cross-pins 66-66, each extending between two small lugs 61-61 projecting from the bottom of the bucket 39. It will be noted in Figures 4 and 8 that the sockets 65 are so shaped that the lower parts thereof project beyond the ends of the upper portions which will permit the clearing of the bucket from the arms and the saddles when the bucket 39 has been lifted up to and positioned on the tracks 29.

Means are provided whereby the bucket may be temporarily or detachably connected to the respective arms. This structure comprises a latch-hook 68 fulcrumed upon a pivot 69 extending transversely across the upper branch 10 of the bucket cradle 58 and projecting out of the open end 1| thereof where it is adapted to engage with cross-pins 46 on the adjacent portions of the bucket. The latch-hooks 68 are automatically returned to their latching positions by means of spring elements 12 that are coiled around the projecting portions of the pivot pins 69 and have end portions 13 engaged with laterally extending pins 14 on the latch-hooks 68. The lateral pins 14 ride in slots 15 in the wall of the upper cradle branch 18. The other ends 16 of the springs are engaged with stop pins 11 projecting from the adjacent portions of the upper cradle branches 10 of the lifter arms 55. The pins 14 co-operating with the arcuate slot 15 limit the movement of the lever 68 in both directions (Figure 8). The ends of the pivot pins 65 project through the opposite walls of the branches 58 and are provided with trips 18. It should be understood that each lifter arm 55 is provided with latches and trip members just described.

When the windlasses or sheaves 52 are rotated the cables 48 will pull the bucket 39 upwardly with the lifter arms 55 until the bucket leading wheels 44 enga e the channel tracks 29 and during a portion of this movement the trip members 18 will have engaged the respective cam pieces 19 projecting from the sides of the ramp frame adjacent the lower ends of the tracks 29 thereof.

This releases the latch-hooks 68-68 from the pins 46-46 on the bucket 39, and the latter leaves the saddles or cradles 58 at the ends of the lifter arms 55 The lifter arms 55 will continue their arcuate movement until the cross-piece 60, which connects the arms, engages a spring stop 88 that is disposed transversely across the ramp. In this latter position, the pins 86 on the bucket 39 will have reached a position with respect to the sockets in the ends of the lower cradle branches 59 so the pins 68 will move out of the sockets 65 while the cables continue to pull thebucket 39 up the ramp channels o tracks 20. This stage in the cycle of operation is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. It should be noted that lugs 89 on the bottom of the bucket 39 engage with stop members 8| on the lower branches 59 of the bucket cradle 58 (Figure 10) and prevent the bucket 39 from sliding out of the saddle or cradle surfaces 64 while it is being elevated to and placed upon the ramp tracks 20.

The cables will'continue to pull the bucket upwardly over the hump or curved portion 2| of the ramp, and the leading wheels 44 of the bucket 39 pass down reversely inclined extensions 22 of the ramp tracks 20 and enter the terminal portions or seats 23 thereof. In this position the leading wheels 44 of the bucket 39 are adapted to act as pivots and the weight of the bucket 39 is to the rear of the leading wheels which allows the bucket to up-end itself. In performing this movement the rear or trailing wheels 44 of the bucket 39 pass through cutaway or notched out portions 82 (Figure 16) in the upper flanges of the ramp rails or tracks 26. In the downward swing of the bucket 39 to the dumping position shown in full lines in Figure 16, the braces or ribs 45 on the body of the bucket are adapted to engage shoes 83 that are pivotally mounted as at 84 on the ends of horizontal plungers 85 suitably carried upon theramp frame preferably by the oblique channel members 26. The plungers 85 are surrounded by springs 86 between collars 81 and the members in which the plungers are mounted to urgethe plungers outwardly. This tends to cushion the impact resulting from the sudden stopping of. the bucket 39 at the limit of movement during its dumping action. This cushioning will permit the operator to allow the bucket to tip suddenly and thereby dislodge and shake out substances which may tend to adhere to the walls of the bucket. As the bucket tilts backward to unload its contents it has onlya limited supply of slack cable. This will allow the bucket to dump only a portion of its load. The balance of the load will be dumped as required under the control of the operator, by his use of the friction clutch in allowing the bucket to dump freely, or slowly as desired.

The arms are provided with cable engaging or guide yokes, each of which comprises a comer member 88 having a guide channel 89 in its edge and having outwardly flared lips 90 (Figures 1 and 2). These cable engaging guide yokes are preferably spaced from the lifter arms 55 by means of stays 9| and 92. The stay 9|, as shown v in Figure 2, extends from the comer member 88 downwardly to and is suitably secured to the tions (Figure 1), and the cables 48 engage in the grooves of the corner members of these bell- .cranks 33 at a location between the sheaves 49 and the cable attaching lugs 41 on the bucket 39. This arrangement tends to assist in the lifting movement of the lifting arms 55 when the bucket 39 is displaced upwardly from its loading position, at the left in Figure l, to a position where the cable will be withdrawn from the yoke to provide a straight run of cable from the bucket 39 direct to the sheaves 49.

It should be noted that when the bucket 39 is elevated and displaced along the ramp 29 and over the hump 2I thereof to assume its dumping position through the pull exerted by the cables 48 thereon (Figure 16), this effects the transfer of the cables 48 from the sheaves 49 to the sheaves 93 that are journalled on shafts '94 carried by levers 95 that are anchored to the rock shaft 59 (Figures 1 and 15).

In order to start.the reverse movement of the bucket 39 from dumping position (Figure 16) to its initial position (Figure 1), a hydraulic ram 96 (Figures 1 and 16) is provided with a bracket 91 at one extremity t pivotally engage a bracket 98 fixed to a cross bar 99 (Figure 15) that bridges the underside of the ramps 29 just below the hump 2| therein. The hydraulic ram cylinder 96 carries a rack I99 serving as a piston thereof to mesh with a pinion I9I that is fixed to the rock shaft 59 for rotation therewith between the ramps 29 (Figure 15). A substantially U-shaped bracket I92 terminates at its open end in bearings I93-I94 (Figure 15) which are journalled on the rock shaft 59 on both sides of the spur gear I9I to receive an idler roller I95 journalled on a pin I96 carried between the spaced arms of the bearing bracket I92 to rotatively support the roller I95 in aligned confronting relation with the spur gear I9I. The lower end of the bearing bracket I92 has an inclined supporting bar I91 attached thereto to rigidly secure the bearing bracket I92 at its lower end with respect to the rampframe and particularly the inclined frame member 29 thereof. As hydraulic pressure is admitted into the cylinder 96 by the attendant as will appear more fully hereinafter, the rack I99 which meshes with the gear I9] on one side and is supported by the roller I95 on the other side thereof, is forced outwardly to rotate the gear I9I in a counter clockwise direction (view from Figures 1 and 16) to swing the lever arms 95 from their normally horizontal position to the right of the rock shaft 59 to an opposite position as shown in dotted lines which isto the left of the rock shaft 59 in Figure 1. Limit stops I98 are fixed to the side surfaces of the ramp 29 (Figure 1) to serve as a rest for the lever arms 95 as they are actuated to assume a horizontal position to the left of the rock shaft 59. In this position, the

: bucket pulling cables 49 will have returned to the sheaves 49 and by reason thereof the empty bucket 39 will be displaced to an upright position below the apex of the ramp hump 2| to permit its descent responsive to the urge of gravity just as soon as the cables 48 are released by the operator who controls the. speed of rotation of the windlass 92 through a clutch mechanism.

After the bucket 39 gravitates down the ramp 29 and again engages with the cradle 59 fixed to the outer ends of the elevating arms 55 to return the bucket 39 to a loading position after being connected to the cradle 58 through the spring operated latch In described supra. When the bucket has returned to its initial loading position, the operator again actuates the hydraulic arm 96 in a reverse direction to pull in the rack I99 and return the sheaves with their lever arms to their normal horizontal position to the right of the rock shaft 59 in preparation for another dumping operation for the bucket 39. So that the bucket 39 can be either dumped rearwardly as described supra or forwardly as will presently be described, suitable power devices of any desired type may be provided. For purposes of illustration, there is shown the hydraulic pump I99 at the front end of the tractor chassis I2. The pump I99 is adapted to be operated by the engine H in any suitable manner.

Pipe lines II9 lead to a control mechanism I II having valves I I2, H3, and H4, in this instance three, provided in the hydraulic system to provide the desired operation and control of the instrumentalities as will appear more fully hereinafter. Pipe lines II5-I I6 extend between the control valve H2 and the hydraulic motor III (Figure 14). The shaft of the hydraulic motor I I1 connects with a speed reducer I I8 that rotates a pinion II9. A flanged ring I2I is disposed between the motor II! and the speed reducer II8 to enable their direct connection and mounting. The pinion II9 meshes with a spur gear I29 carried by a driven shaft 53 to which the windlasses or cable sheaves 52 are attached. The hydraulic motor II! is connected to the valve II2 by lines H5 and H6. Valves H2, H3 and H4 permit the oil to flow forward or backward through the pipes leading to plungers I99 and/or I28 and/or motor II! or lock the lines so that no oil can enter or leave; therefore, the fluid motor III can be operated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction or be held stationary to act as a brake to maintain the bucket 39 or other hydraulically operated instrumentalities in any desiredv position.

By slowly actuating the valve handles, this braking action can be accomplished very smoothly, since the oil pump I99 is of variable displacement type wherein the resistance set up by opening a valve to actuate the plungers I99I28 or motor II'I increases the oil pressure which, in turn, automatically moves the stator ring in a vane type pump to a more concentric position with relation to the vane rotor, thereby reducing the displacement as the pressure increases. These operating characteristics of variable displacement hydraulic pumps are very well known, since there are many of standard construction and design which would be suitable for the purpose set forth, namely to provide low speed under loading conditions such as when the bucket 39 is proceeding with its digging operation, and to increase the speed when the load is reduced after digging has terminated and the bucket 39 is moved from its digging position for dumping such as along the ramp 29 to the rear dumping posi-- tion and back again.

It should be noted that the-valve H2 has a bleeder line II2 between it and the line II9 constituting the return from the fluid motor I H. The bleeder line 2' permits the fluid motor to to allow the fluid to actuate the motor 1. Thus the power on the windlasses or sheaves 52 may be doubled while the speed of the windlasses or sheaves 52 is reduced by practically one-half durr ring offset to produce maximum displacement until a pressure i built up in the line. The pressure is piped to a plunger under the spring and as the pressure increases, the spring is .forced back until the stator ring becomes concentric with the blade rotor when thedisplacement becomes zero; however, the pressure'is maintained with only enough oil actually delivered to offset leaking the upward traverse of the bucket 39 fordumping from the ramp 20. So that the tractor chassis I 2 may be moved through the operation or the chains I0.iii one or the other direction to bring the bucket 39 into the desired situs and position, a suitable manual transmission control lever I22 (Figure 1) is profided within easy reach of the operator to direct the forward or rearward traverse of the chains, l0 responsive to the operation of the tractor engine H.

In order to pivotally actuate the bucket 39 in its forward position to effect dumping, another valve I I3 is provided to control the fiuid'pressure from the pump I09 through lines I23I24 to the ram cylinders iZS-IZS, in this instance two, which are pivoted at their ends I26I 26 to brackets I2'I--I2I fixed proximate to the pivots-56 to lifter arms 55 (Figure 8). The cylinders I have projecting piston rods I28I28 that terminate in bosses I29--I29 which are pivotally connected to brackets I30-I30 fixed to the bucket cradle or carrier 58 along the upper inclined end I3I thereof. .As a result, the operator can tilt the bucket 39 with its cradle or carrier 58 that pivots about pins 62 projecting laterally from the lower ends age.

When there is no load on. the windlasses or sheaves 52 or.plungers I00l28, the oil is forced from the pump I09 to the reservoir I34 and back again. When this path is broken by opening one of the control valves H2, H3 or II4 to furnish hydraulic power to actuate one or the other of the fluid pressure responsive devices, pressure is built up inthe line and the displacement drops until maximum pressure is reached. Under these conditions, the pump I09 will rotate and hold the load without any oil being delivered.

The fluid pressure responsive plungei's I 00-I 28 are double acting and the fluid motor III that operates the windlasses 52, can operate in both the clockwise and counterclockwise direction under power; therefore, the hydraulic valves H2, H3, and H4 have three positions, namely forward, reverse and lock. The valve Hz for the of the lifter arm branches 64 (Figure 11) to dump the bucket 39 in any forward position whethersuch be elevated or lowered within the.limitsof pivotal movement of the lifter arms 55' (Figure 2).

The hydraulic valve I I4 connects through pipes I3z-I32 with the hydraulic ram 96 to control the operation of the rack I00 which swings the sheave supporting arms 95 from one or the other of its extreme horizontal positions. It should be noted that the hydraulic pipe lines described supra lead back to a reservoir or tank I34 that connects with the pump which is in the closed hydraulic system (Figure 14). When the rock shaft 50 displaces the lever arms 95 to its extreme horizontal counter clockwise position (Figure 1), to transfer the cables 48 from sheaves 93 back to sheaves 49, the

bucket 39 will be elevated from its rearward dumping position to a position just below the ramp hump 2|. This takes place because the bucket moving cables 48 are taut around the sheaves 93 between the bucket 39 and the windlasses 52 and this swing of the lever-arms 95 will pull the bucket 39 back from its rearward dumping position, thereby restoring the released bucket wheels 44 to the track 20 and moving the bucket 39 a. suitable distance forwardly to the apex or just beyond the humps 2I of the tracks 20. Thereafter, the bucket 39 may be gravitated down the ramp 20 by either reversing the fluid motor II! and reeling out cable 48 or by opening both lines II5-l I6 for circulation of oil which allows gravity to pull on the cable 48 and reverse the fluid motor I".

It should be observed that the pump I09 is of the variable displacement type of which there are a, number of suitable standard construction wherein a spring (not shown) holds a stator ring on center (not shown) against a blade rotor to produce the pumping action. The spring is adjusted by a screw so a maximum pressure range of from 50 to 1000 pounds per square inch may be obtained. The spring tends .to hold the stator fluid motor Ill also has a fourth position for permitting the cable 48 to reel out and exert a pull to reverse the motor I ll after dumping the bucket 39in its extreme'rearward position. With both lines closed on the plunger I00I28 and fluid motor III, the oil is locked and the valves II2,

II3, and H4 can then be utilized as a clutch or brake by slow opening or closing. Consequently, no clutch or brake is required to operate the hydraulic responsive devices and their actuators. To repeat, the bucket 39 can be moved down the ramp 20 to return it to its initial position after the dumping thereof has been efl'ected, by either reversing the hind motor III or paying out cable 48 or by opening both lines for circulation of oil to permit gravity to elfectively exert a pull on the cables 48, thereby reversing the oil or fluid motor III which coasts while oil circulation is eifected through the bleeder line II2'.. This permits the bucket 39 to move down the inclined ramp 20.

Upon reaching the lifter arms 55 which were left in their upright or extreme clockwise position (viewed from Figure l) the pins 86 will enter the sockets 8'5 and the lifter arms 55 will begin their return swing downwardly to their imtial or loading positions and the bucket 39 will become seated in the cradle or saddle 58 pivotally connected to the branches 6465 of thelirter arms 55. When the bucket 39 is passing the cam plates -I9, the trip 18 will release the latch-hooks 68. so that the latter will engage the CIOSS-pllils 46, thereby locking the lifter arms 55 and cradle 58 to the bucket 39.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it must be understood that this invention is capable of considerable variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as I bination with a frame, of a runway on said frame,

a bucket adapted to traverse said runway during a portion of its cycle of operation; actuating means adapted to move said bucket in its aforesaid cycle; rigid arm means engageable with said bucket and operable responsive to said actuating means for lifting said bucket and guiding it to and from said runway; said bucket being detachabiy and pivotally associated with said rigid arms, power means for pivotally actuating said bucket while associated with said rigid arm means for digging and dumping displacement thereof independent of said runway, and means on said runway for disengaging said rigid arm lifting means from the bucket during the travel of said bucket on said runway.

2. In a material handling apparatus, the combination with a frame, of a runway on said frame, a bucket adapted to traverse said runway during a portion of its cycle of operation, actuating means adapted to move said bucket in its aforesaid cycle, fulcrumed reciprocable rigid arm means engageable with said bucket and operableresponsive to said actuating means for lifting said bucket and guiding it to and from said runway, said bucket being detachabiy and pivotally associated with said rigid arm means, power means for controlling the pivotal position of said bucket relative to said rigid arm means independent of said runway, and means for disengaging said fulcrumed means from the bucket during the travel of said bucket on said runway.

3. In a material handling apparatus, the combination with a frame, of a runway on said frame, a bucket adapted to traverse said runway during a portion of its cycle of operation, actuating means adapted to move said bucket in its aforesaid cycle, rigid arms fulcrumed on said frame and movable responsive to said actuating means, said bucket being detachably and pivotally associated with said rigid arms, the free portions of said arms adapted to lift said bucket and guide it to and from said runway, power means for pivotally actuating said bucket while associated with said rigid arm means for digging and dumping displacement thereof independent of said runway, and means for disengaging said arms from the bucket during the travel of said bucket on said runway.

4. In a material handling apparatus, the combination with a. frame, of a runway on said frame, a bucket adapted to traverse said runway'during a portion of its cycle of operation, actuating means adapted to move said bucket in its aforethe bucket during the travel of said bucket on said runway.

6. In a material handling apparatus, the combination with a frame, of a runway on said frame, a bucket adapted to traverse said runway during .a portion of its cycle of operation, a cable connected to said bucket and adapted to move said bucket in its aforesaid cycle, power devices for moving said cable, fulcrumed reciprocable rigid arm means engagable with said bucket and operable responsive to the movement of said cable for lifting said bucket and guiding it to and from said runway, means for disengaging said fulcrumed lifting means from the bucket during the travel of said bucket on said runway to its extreme rearward dumping position where said bucket tilts for partial removal from said runway, and power means including a hydraulically operated rack for returning said bucket from its extreme rearward dumping position to fully engage said runway in a position for gravitation downwardly therealong.

7. In a material handling apparatus, the combination with a frame, of a runway on said frame, a bucket adapted to traverse said runway during a portion of its cycle of operation, a cable connected, to said bucket and adapted to move said bucket in its aforesaid cycle; power devices for mbving said cable, rigid arms fulcrumed on said frame and movable responsive to the movej ment of said cable, said arms adapted to lift said bucket and guide it to and from said runway,

means for disengaging said arms from the bucket during the travel of said bucket on said runway,

' bination with a frame, of a runway on said said cycle, rigid arms fulcrumed on said frame below said runway and movable responsive to said actuating means, a bucket supporting cradle pivotally connected to said arms, power means for pivotally actuating said cradle relative to said arms independent of said first named actuating means, Said arms adapted to lift said bucket and guide it to and from said runway, latching devices detachable connecting said bucket to said cradle, and means for releasing said latching devices whereby said arms and cradle are detached from said bucket during the travel of said bucket on said runway.

.5. In a material handling apparatus, the combination with a frame, of a runway on said frame, a bucket adapted to traverse said runway during a portion of its cycle of operation, a cable connected to said bucket and adapted to move said bucket in its aforesaid cycle; power devices for moving said cable; rigid arm means pivotally connected to said frame, a bucket supporting cradle pivotally mounted to said rigid arm means, power means for pivotally actuating said cradle relative to said rigid arms for digging and dumping displacement of said bucket, means for deframe, a bucket adapted to traverse said runway during a portion of its cycle of operation,

.a cable connected to and adapted to move said movement of said cable when said bucket is attached thereto, said arms adapted to lift said bucket and guide it to and from said runway, latch means for detachably connecting said arms to said bucket, and means for operating said latch means to disengage said bucket from said cradle during the travel of said bucket on said runway.

9. In a material handling apparatus, the combination with a frame, of a runway on said frame, a bucket adapted to traverse said runway during a portion of its cycle of operation, cables connected to and adapted to move said bucket in its aforesaid cycle, rigid arms fulcrumed on said frame, a saddle at the free ends of said arms adapted for detachable connection with said bucket, said arms movable responsive to the movement of said cables and thereby adapted for guiding said bucket to and from said runway, power means for winding and unwinding said cable, means on said saddle providing attachment to said bucket, power means for pivotally actuating said bucket while associated with said rigid arm means for digging and dumping displacement thereof independent of said runway, and means on said runway in the path of said attaching means for disengaging said saddle from the bucket during the travel of said bucket on said runway.

10. In a material handling apparatus, the combination with a frame, of spaced tracks providing a ramp on said frame, a material digging and carrying bucket, wheels on said bucket adapted for operation on said tracks during the cycle of operation of said bucket to and along said ramp, fulcrumed rigid arm means operable responsive moving said bucket up said ramp, a sheave at the to said actuating means for guiding the bucket;

to said tracks, means for disengaging said fulcrumed means from the bucket during the travel of said bucket on said tracks, a downwardly curved portion on said tracks to invert said bucket to dumping position simultaneous with certain of said bucket wheels leaving said tracks, and power operated gear means for returning said bucket to a position of gravitation on said track.

11. In a material handling apparatus, the combination with a frame, of spaced tracks providing a ramp on said frame, a material digging and carrying bucket, wheels on said bucket adapted for operation on said tracks during the cycle of operating of said bucket on said frame, cables connected to said bucket, actuating means for moving said cables to pull sai bucket up said ramp for overhead rear dumping, fulcrumed rigid arm means operable responsive to said actuating means for transferring said bucket from a loading position to said tracks, a pivotal cradle on said rigid arms for detachable engagement of said bucket therewith, power means for pivoting said cradle with said bucket attached thereto for dig ging and front dumping displacement thereof independent of said ramp, and means for disengaging said bucket from said fulcrumed cradle when said bucket reaches said tracks.

12. In a material handlingapparatus, the combination with a frame, of spaced tracks providing a ramp on said frame, a material digging and carrying bucket provided with wheels adapted to move said bucket in its cycle of operation, rigid lifter arms fulcrumed on said frame for guiding the bucket from loading position to said ramp, said bucket being detachably and pivotally connected to said rigid lifter arms, means for pivotally actuating said bucket relative to said lifter arms, means for disengaging said lifter arms from the bucket during the travel of said bucket upon said ramp, and power operated gear means for efiecting the return movement of said bucket along said ramp and onto said rigid lifter arms.

13. In a material handling apparatus, the combination with a frame, of a runway on said frame,

a material digging and carrying bucket provided with wheels adapted for operation upon said runway during a portion of the cyclepf operation of said bucket, means adapted to actuate said bucket to dump the contents therefrom in both its loading and its unloading positions, rigid arm bucket lifting means for displacing said bucket from its upper portion of said ramp with which said cable is' engaged during upward movement of said bucket, a rock-shaft, means adjacent said rockshaft adapted to tilt said bucket, a second sheave bodily movable with said rock-shaft and adapted to be engaged by said cable upon the tilting of said bucket, and power operated rack means meshing with a gear on said rock-shaft to bodily move said second sheave while it is engaged with said cable and thereby restore said bucket to a non-tilted position.

15. In a material handlingapparatus, the combination with a frame, of inclined ramp on said frame, a material digging and carrying bucket adapted to traverse said ramp, a cable for moving said bucket up said ramp, a sheave at the upperportion of said ramp with which said cable is engaged during upward movement of said bucket, a rock-shaft, means adjacent said rockshaft adapted to tilt said bucket, a lever-arm fixed to said rock-shaft, a second sheave journalled on said lever-arm in a position to be engaged by said cable upon the tilting of said bucket, power means for pivotally actuating said bucket while associated with said rigid arm means for digging and dumping displacement thereof independent of said ramp, and rigid power operated means for' rotating said rockshaft to bodily move said s'econdsheave while it is engaged with said cable and thereby return said bucket to said ramp from said track. 1

16. In a material handling apparatus, the combination with a frame, of an inclined ramp, a

material digging and carrying bucket adapted to traverse said ramp,-a cable for moving said bucket up said ramp, an oppositely inclined track on said ramp to tilt said bucket to a rear ,dumping position on said ramp, means at the upper portion of said ramp with which said cable effects the return of said bucket to said ramp from the dumping track portion thereof, rigid digging arms for adjustably carrying said bucket, and means for adjusting said bucket while connected to said rigid arms to displace said bucket to a front dumping position thereon independent of said inclined ramp.

17. In a, material handling apparatus, the combination with a frame, of inclined ramp on said frame, a material digging and carrying bucket adapted to traverse said ramp, a cable for moving said bucket up said ramp, an oppositely inclined track at the upper end of said ramp adapted to receive and tilt said bucket to assume a rear dumping position on said ramp responsive to said cable, rigid arms pivotally mounted to said frame, said bucket being detachably and pivotallyassociated with said rigid arms, means for returning said bucket from said dumping position on said ramp for re-oonnection to said rigid arms, and means for pivoting said bucket while associated with said rigid arms to assume a front dumping position independent of said ramp.

loading position to said runway. power means for 18. In a material handling apparatus, the combination with a frame, of an inclined ramp on said frame, a material digging and carrying bucket adapted to traverse said ramp, means at the upper end of said ramp adapted to tilt said bucket to assume a dumping position on said ramp, means for disconnecting said bucket from said rigid arms while, transference thereof is eflfected onto said ramp, means for tilting said bucket about its pivotal connection with said rigid arms to assume a dumping position thereon, and power operated rack means for returning said bucket from its tilted dumping position on said ramp to assume a position along said inclined ramp enabling gravitation therealong for connection with said rigid arms.

19. In a material handling apparatus, the combination with a frame, of an inclined ramp, a material digging and carrying bucket adapted to traverse said ramp, an oppositely inclined track at the upper end of said ramp adapted to tilt said bucket into a dumping position on said ramp, an elongated cable for moving said bucket on said ramp, a rocker arm fulcrumed at the upper portion'of said ramp, a sheave rotatably carried by the movable portion of said rocker am, said sheave adapted to be engaged by a portion oi! said elongated cable when said bucket is disposed on said downwardly inclined track, a

. rack having operative connection with said rocker arm, and a hydraulic ram for displacing said rack which imparts rotation to said rocker arm thereby removing said bucket from said oppositely inclined track portion to said inclined ramp.

20. In amaterial handling apparatus, the combination with a vehicle frame, of a ramp on said frame, rigid arms pivoted to said frame, material penetrating and conveying means detachably pivotally associated with said rigid arms, means for displacing said last named means between said rigid arms and ramp, and therealong to assume a rear dumping position thereon, means for pivoting said material penetrating and conveying means relative to said rigid arms to assume a front dumping position thereon independent of said ramp, means for causing said material penetrating and conveying means to assume a dumping position on said ramp, and means for returning said material penetrating and conveying means from its dumping position on either said ramp or said rigid arms.

' STEPHEN GRUBICH. 

